Police arrested a 39-year-old man for distributing toxic capsules to attendees of a Muharram procession in Byculla, Mumbai [1], [2].
The incident highlights a severe security breach during a major religious gathering, where a suspect allegedly used the guise of health supplements to administer poison to thousands of people.
Authorities identified the suspect as Fayyaz Premji [1], [3]. According to investigators, Premji distributed capsules containing zinc phosphide [1], [4]. He said the pills were painkillers and immunity boosters to deceive them into taking the substance [2].
Police said the suspect intended to kill 15,000 people [2], [5]. While the scale of the intended attack was vast, the actual number of victims who fell ill after consuming the pills was 11 [6].
The suspect is 39 years old [1]. Investigators are working to determine the motive behind the attack, as the specific reason for targeting the procession remains unexplained [5].
Zinc phosphide is a highly toxic chemical often used as a rodenticide. The distribution of such a substance in a crowded public space created a significant public health risk during the event in Maharashtra [1], [4].
“The suspect allegedly wanted to kill 15,000 people”
This event underscores the vulnerability of large-scale religious processions to targeted chemical attacks. The use of zinc phosphide, a common pesticide, suggests an attempt to use easily accessible toxins to cause mass casualties, prompting a likely increase in security screenings and food and medicine monitoring at public gatherings in India.
